2013 UPS Change in the (Supply) Chain Survey

Factors such as increasing globalization of the high-tech industry, competition coming from new places, the rising influence of the end consumer and the pressure to innovate and get to market faster while containing costs have all put strains on the high-tech supply chain.

In the fourth year of the annual UPS Change in the (Supply) Chain survey, we see these impacts as global high-tech logistics decision makers prepare for significant “gear shifts” in their supply chains to get ahead in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

This year, the survey, conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights, gathers insights from nearly 350 executives in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, on their current and upcoming plans for driving change in the “chain.” The following pages of this executive summary reveal the top findings around areas where high-tech logistics executives prepare to skillfully shift gears in their supply chains.

Among the specific changes planned include:

• Slowly embracing near-shoring to get closer to customers
• Adopting a more customer-centric supply chain
• Better managing the entire product lifecycle from global launch to product retirement
• Capitalizing on the emerging markets opportunity & navigating through key barriers

All of these shifts will drive the next generation high-tech supply chain.